In early August, I attended KM Australia – a highlight of the Knowledge Management agenda in Australia. With more than 150 delegates in attendance it was a memorable event. Below are a few key points I would like to share:

- Dave Snowden - Cognitive Edge (England)
(the Key Note speaker) always interesting; thought-provoking, challenging, raising ideas for further thinking, and with his philosophical base always shining through. Of particular interest was his idea of ‘the science of complexity – coexisting to create something different’; reinforcing KM as part of change management, and reminding us of the power in building and maintain networks.

- Patrick Lambe - Straits Knowledge (Singapore) always charming, concise and low key – carefully overseeing his KM method cards (an interactive way to explore new approaches, methods and tools for identifying useful techniques during KM projects)

- Leanne Fry former Knowledge Manager AMP clear, concise, forthright and providing a good overview of implementation of Enterprise 2.0 technologies.

Of course one of the major positives about attending Conferences of this kind is the capacity to catch up with colleagues; discuss emerging initiatives in the field with ‘like minded individuals’ and learn new KM concepts to implement.

On a personal note I was overwhelmed by a recent invitation to become a Conventions Adelaide Ambassador by the Patron Hon Dr Jane Lomax-Smith MP. Along with others from a range of sectors including Medical/Health, Science, Defence, Food & Wine, Mining, Arts, Education, Agriculture, Environment, the Minister will officially launch the Conventions Adelaide Ambassador Program on the 15th September.

The role of the Ambassadors is to unearth opportunities for developing national and international convention bids, work with and promote the Conventions Adelaide team to expand their contact network, advise on promotional opportunities, and of course spread the Conventions Adelaide Message during international and national business trips.

I am thrilled about the challenges and opportunities this role represents. I will certainly be spreading the message about Adelaide and its benefits to colleagues and contacts in London and Paris when I visit during September. Highlights of the trip will be reported in forthcoming Ideations, but on the list is a catch up with David Gurteen, at one of his Master Classes on Implementing a Knowledge Café, in London and in Paris, connecting with other KM colleagues, across a range of business sectors including – carbons; art; telecommunications; consultancies; services, an academic; and a user of narrative. From a Fun.Food.Focus perspective, we will be taking a cooking class at the Ritz Hotel Escoffier School and another at a ‘hands on’ cooking school in Montmartre. A visit to the Restaurant et Hotel Regis et Jacques Marcon a 3 star Michelin restaurant in Saint Bonnet Le Froid will be a fitting end to the trip.

Best wishes, until next edition,

Helen Paige
Founder and Director
The Paige Group

Is it the remarkable impact of programs such as Network 10’s Masterchef, stirring and stimulating our inner chef or the delicious exhilaration that heralds a change in season, but we have been delighted by the surge in demand for Fun.Food.Focus. cooking classes. Spring of course promises us lighter, warmer days and a garden emerging from the winter slumber with joyful buds. It also means a wide variety of fresh new seasonal fruits and vegetables, all begging to be part of our creative cooking adventures. So engage and enjoy the new season with a FFF ‘hands on’ cooking class.

• Our specialty pizza classes are still drawing the crowds. Held on the second Saturday of every month with Chef and pizza guru Kris, it is the perfect way to impress your family and friends. Get involved! Bookings are now open for the next pizza making class on Saturday 10th October. 1-4pm.
  
  
• Chef Fumi is full of surprises. His sushi classes are truly inspirational; with his exquisite preparation and crafting of perfect temaki, sushi and chirashi-zushi. He is also a practicing magician who just loves a captive audience! Our next sushi class is on Saturday 10th October 10am – 1pm so reserve your place now.
  
  
• We will also be having one of our popular Exotic Thai cooking classes during October ….a date yet to be fixed. Contact Helen on 8271 1173 for further details and to register your interest. Follow the lead of one of our July participants who said – ‘What can I say? Instructional and adaptive lessons – great personalities’.
  

All Fun Food Focus classes are open to individuals or groups. So why not bring some friends and enjoy an entertaining, interactive and innovative cooking experience that is sure to stir your inner chef too!

Fun.Food.Focus In the Media
We were very proud to feature recently in the popular ‘Indulge’ section of the Adelaide Advertiser. Complete with colour image, the story highlighted the creative passion of FFF founder Helen Paige and her love for sharing and educating people about the joys of cooking and all things food related.

And more foodie news:
Cook and Stay
Fun.Food.Focus was recently invited to list both our ‘hands on’ corporate and individual cooking classes on this website which features the Best Cooking Classes in Australia; something we were very happy to do.

 
For your diary –
Pizza Making - Saturday 10th October 1 - 4pm
Sushi Making - Saturday 10th October 10am – 1pm
Exotic Thai Cooking - during October, a date to be confirmed.
Call Helen on 8271 1173 or 0403 374 183.
 

Fun.Food.Focus is also at work and building a solid reputation within the business sector. Two South Australian Councils have recently held activities facilitated by Fun.Food.Focus. To meet individual business objectives, both events also involved mini World Knowledge Cafes (please refer to our Welcome and AKN segments to hear more about what a knowledge café is) together with ‘hands on’ cooking.

The City of Port Adelaide Enfield engaged Fun.Food.Focus to facilitate a mini World Knowledge Café and sushi making event at their newly renovated Glanville Hall Function Centre (wwww.portenf.sa.gov.au). It was truly a great day, full of fun,food,focus and magic with Chef Fumi.

The half day session saw the team first hold a Knowledge Café with Helen to discuss two critical planning issues. Much in-depth conversation and mutual sharing of ideas followed, with hearty discussion on potential solutions (all captured via scribes for future analysis and distribution back to the team via the Director). To integrate the learning, and to share team building skills, the group then turned their attention to preparing delicious sushi.

The Fun.Food.Focus sushi making session was an excellent way for the team to get together in a relaxed learning environment. Everyone loved the Chef …and his magic tricks! The team all commented on how much they enjoyed sitting down at a long table and eating the sushi together at the end of the session.’

Jane Marr
Visitor Information Centre Coordinator
City of Port Adelaide Enfield

For the team from Alexandrina Council the focus was all on team building and celebrating a recent award.

Understanding the needs of this small team, Fun.Food.Focus joined them in discussing key issues that had been of mutual concern for the group, in a mini knowledge café environment. After a short break, the team then turned its attention to preparation of their joint lunch.

With an Australian Fusion cooking theme, the group chopped, spiced, beat and mixed their way, through the menu which included - Hot and sour soup, Spicy beef with coriander relish; Roasted Soy Chicken; Roast pumpkin green bean and avocado salad, and for dessert –Apple, polenta, golden syrup and lemon myrtle pudding. And of course, a little champagne tasting to celebrate their win!

Corporate Events with Fun Food Focus
Fun Food Focus is also an experienced provider for the corporate market. Our ‘hands-on’ cooking classes can be expertly tailored to meet strategic business objectives such as team building and motivation, change management or purely as a staff reward. We offer a range of culinary experiences matched with a variety of venue options for a unique and unforgettable corporate event suited to your individual requirements. Hear more from our satisfied clients and view our video now at www.funfoodfocus.com.au

Combining…..Knowledge, Food and Wine

As reported under Fun.Food.Focus on the Go! it is easy, efficient and effective for teams to combine Knowledge Food and Wine. If you want to learn more about how a Knowledge Café can assist your business both financially and in employee motivation? Please log on to www.thepaigegroup.com.au/akn.htm or contact Helen at Advance Knowledge Networks on 82711173 or 0403 374 183.
You can view our video of a World Knowledge Café on http://www.thepaigegroup.com.au/aknvideo.html

KM Australia – From Diverse Perspectives
As reported in our last e-zine, the major Australian Knowledge Management event - KM Australia “From Diverse Perspectives” was held early this month in the Crystal Place, Luna Park, Sydney.

In order to run the Knowledge Café, a crucial element was ‘collaboration’. I want to thank all from the KM community who willingly acted as ‘hosts’ and ‘scribes’ (including those from the ARK group). A special thank you to Justin Harness (Associate Director, Business Services for Macquarie Group Ltd in Sydney), for his expert assistance and support during the K café process. It is great that Justin is now back in Australia, as we first met in 2007 when he was engaged in a major KM project at Linklaters Law firm in London. See the following photos of the World K café in action and the group from Adelaide who attended KM Australia.

Hi Helen

‘…The KCafe was certainly one of the highlights as it was an
ideal way to wrap up proceedings on day one, and a great opportunity for delegates to meet and speak with each other before the second day of presentations.

Thanks again for all your hard work and we hope to work with you again very soon.’

Valerie Moerbeck
Head of Production
Ark Group Asia

KM Calendar

*IMPLEMENTING A KNOWLEDGE CAFÉ – MASTER CLASS – CONDUCTED BY DAVID GURTEEN

9th September, 2009. Ark Group, London
David has asked Helen to provide a short overview of her KM experience.

**KM FOR THE ENERGY, ENGINEERING AND RESOURCES SECTORS

Two-Day Connected Forum and Workshops, 19-21 October, 2009
Helen will be presenting an Interactive World Knowledge Café at this Conference. Case studies at the Conference will be presented by Rio Tinto, Alcoa World Alumina, Pacific Rim Consulting Group, Standards Australia International, Worley Parsons and many other well known-Australian companies. Refer www.arkgroupaustralia.com.au